Sunday, September 24, 2017

Heartwood Hotel Book 2 The Greatest Gift -- Review & Giveaway

“My stories run up and bite me in the leg -- I respond by writing them down -- everything that

goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off.”

~ Ray Bradbury ~

Gifts for My Writer Friends:

I have started clearing out my email. It’s been a while. I ran across this post from Janice Hardy from 2015 that I had bookmarked in my email. It’s so good (and timeless) that I decided to post the link HERE in spite of the age.

A great villain is hard to beat and so necessary to a story. Kristin Lamb has a post HERE that will help you create just such a character. And, BONUS, her posts are always fun to read.

This is just for fun. Folks at the University of York have uncovered 30 words lost from the English language that should maybe make a comeback HERE. That said, I might be put off if anyone referred to me as being snout-fair.

Now and then I have time to read a book for actual adults. The book I recently read is Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. I really loved it and want to recommend it to any other adult readers. It's a terrific story with great writing.

Last week I offered a copy of A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting by Joe Ballarini to one of you. This week's winner is Paddy Lawton. Congratulations, Paddy! I will get your book out to you soon. For the rest of you, another wonderful giveaway in the offing. Please stay tuned.

Mona the mouse has recently joined the staff at the Heartwood Hotel, and it is a very busy time of year until they get all the hibernating animals settled in. The staff celebrates with a St. Slumber supper and gifts are exchanged. Mona, an orphan mouse, had no idea she should have gifts for anyone and feels terrible that she doesn’t. Duchess Haveline, a demanding, wealthy rabbit, arrives unannounced and insists on being in the penthouse and having the lobby carpet installed in her room. Mona decides she will make a new carpet as a gift for everyone. She goes to the storage room to get twine and discovers a thief who is stealing food. Since a days-long blizzard is happening, this could be a disaster for all.

Author Kallie George has created a charming world populated by an enchanting

Kallie George

group of animal characters for younger middle-grade readers. Her writing is lovely and lyrical, and her story has a little mystery and a lot of delight. Illustrations by Stephanie Graegin complete this endearing story with perfectly adorable depictions of the characters and actions. This second book in the series will keep young readers captivated.

I have a gently-read hardback of this book to share with one of you. To win, all you need do is have a US address, be a subscriber or follower, and tell me that in a comment you leave on this post. If you are reading this in your email, clickHEREto go to the blog so you can leave a comment. If you would like extra chances, please spread the word by posting the link on a Tweet, blog post, Facebook, or any other way you like. Let me know what you have done in your comment, and I will put in extra chances for you for each that you do.

Don't forget to check out Shannon Messenger's wonderful blog HERE for many more Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday reviews and giveaways.

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About Me

Thanks for dropping by. I am a writer who works almost entirely on children's books, stories, poems, and articles, including two completed novels. I live in Antelope, CA, near Sacramento-- crazy hot in the summer, cold and wet in the winter, and stunning in the spring and fall. I spent many years teaching high school English and am in love with words, books, theatre, and related subjects. I regularly review children's and young adult books for the San Francisco and Manhattan Book Reviews. I would love to hear from you and what interests you. I have had work published in Highlights and High Five Magazines as well as a rhyming story in the anthology, Fifty Funny Poems for Children published in the U.K., and a memoir included in a Christmas anthology from Harlequin, A Miracle Under the Christmas Tree. Please leave a comment or question or poem.